Spartans Win Extra-Innings Affair for Split of Doubleheader at NYU

Spartans Win Extra-Innings Affair for Split of Doubleheader at NYU

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The Case Western Reserve University baseball team scored two runs in the top of the ninth inning, and a solo home run by first-year infielder Jaxon Knutson in the top of the 10th proved to be the winning run in a 8-7 win for the Spartans in the second game of a doubleheader at New York University on Saturday. The Spartans and the Violets split the doubleheader, with NYU winning the earlier contest 10-0 in seven innings at Staten Island University Hospital Community Park in Staten Island, New York.

The Spartans stand at 16-17 following the split with a 5-10 University Athletic Association record, while NYU moved to 11-15 overall with a 5-10 league mark.

Stats & Standouts

  • Knutson's game winner was his team-leading second home run of the season, including an inside-the-park home run against Washington & Jefferson earlier in the year.

  • Sophomore Ayush Shetty pitched the final four and a third innings of the win without allowing a run or a hit, and gave up just one walk with four strikeouts. He earned the win in the game to improve to 3-1 on the season.

  • Senior outfielder Matt Trout had two extra-base hits during the day, including an RBI triple in the ninth inning of the second game.

Game 1 Recap: NYU def. CWRU, 10-0 (7 inn.)

  • The Violets scored four runs in the bottom of the second, one in the bottom of the fourth, and five in the bottom of the sixth to take a 10-0 lead.

  • CWRU managed just four hits in the game, including a two-for-three showing at the plate from first-year third baseman James O'Connor. Trout added a double, and sophomore outfielder Evan Garbincus had a single.

  • Sophomore Charlie Griffith suffered the loss for CWRU, dropping to 1-4 for the season. NYU's Niket Barot pitched a complete game shutout, improving to 2-2.

Game 2 Recap: CWRU def. NYU, 8-7 (10 inn.)

  • The Spartans took the lead with a run in the top of the second when senior catcher Sean Donahue was hit by a pitch, stole second and third, and scored on a groundout by sophomore second baseman Calvin Gelle.

  • NYU evened the score with a two-out run in the bottom of the third.

  • CWRU quickly regained the lead when Donahue opened the fourth with a triple and scored a batter later on a double by first-year designated hitter Emilio Manz. CWRU added two more runs on a double by first-year left fielder Cole White, who then crossed the plate himself on a base hit by Garbincus to put the Spartans in front 5-1.

  • A two-run home run by the Violets in the bottom of the fifth cut the Spartans' lead to two runs, 5-3, and NYU took the lead with four runs in the bottom of the sixth, including three on a bases-loaded triple. 

  • The Spartans trailed by two until the top of the ninth. Junior Tyler Stillson started the frame with a base hit and scored on a one-out triple by Trout. White followed with a sacrifice fly, scoring Trout from third and knotting the score at 7-7.

  • Shetty retired the side in order in the bottom of the ninth, and leading off the tenth, Knutson pulled a 2-1 pitch over the wall in right center field to put CWRU in front by a run.

  • Shetty would pitch another one-two-three inning in the 10th to secure the win for the Spartans.

  • White finished the game two-for-three with  a double, a stolen base, a run, and three RBIs.

  • Donahue added a one-for-three game with two runs, a triple, a walk, and three stolen bases.

  • Garbincus added two hits in the contest.

  • NYU's Dhruv Vengurlekar suffered the loss in relief, dropping to 0-2 on the campaign.

Spartan Notes

  • CWRU improved to 1-1 in extra innings games this season. It was the team's first extra-innings victory since an 8-6 win in 11 innings over the University of Chicago on April 12, 2025.

  • Trout's triple was his team-leading fifth of the season. He is now one shy of the team's single-season record, previously set by Nick Harms (2025), Jacob Kucia (2019), and Gordon Daily (1999).

  • Stillson has reached base in each of his last 17 games, the longest active streak by a Spartan player and the second-longest on the team this season.

  • The Spartans stand at 85-43-1 in UAA games since the start of site play in 2017.

  • CWRU is 24-8-1 all-time against NYU, and 15-4 all-time in games between the two teams played in New York.